Indians' Lindor (calf) 0-for-3 in Triple-A game

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Slowly and sensibly, Francisco Lindor is working his way back onto the field.

Surrounded by approximately 50 fans, more than a dozen minor leaguers, a few scouts, and various game operations and medical staffers, the Cleveland Indians‘ three-time All-Star shortstop played in a controlled Triple-A game on Wednesday, a major step in his recovery from a right calf strain.

“The pitcher was nasty, great pitcher,” Lindor said about Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Brock Stewart, who struck him out twice. “I’m blessed to be out there, happy to be out there.”

Lindor went 0-for-3 with the two strikeouts against Stewart on a practice field near Goodyear Ballpark, where his major league teammates played the Milwaukee Brewers in a split-squad game.

Stewart got Lindor to swing and miss on a 3-2 pitch in his last at-bat with a cutting fastball. In his first at-bat, Lindor swung on a 3-0 count to get in his cuts, flying out in gusting winds to left.